Improvement in swinging clocks



PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HERRMANN, OF NEVPORT, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN SWINGING CLOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 117,284, dated July 25, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE HERRMANN, ot' Newport, in the county of Newport and State 'of Rhode Island, have invented a new and Improved Clock, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specitication, in which- Figure 1 represents a front view of my improved clock. Fig. 2 is aside view, partly in section, of the same, the plane of section being indicated by the line a' fr, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a back view of the upper works. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the same taken on the plane ot the line y y, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal section of the pendulum, the plane section being indicated by the line z z, Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a side view of a striking attachment of modified construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a new clock, which is constructed so as to constitute its own pendulum, being so intimately connected with the same as to swing with it. The advantages derived from such an arrangement are, chiefly, greater exactness and reliability, and also a motive power for the striking attachment and allother mechanism connected with the clock, an additional spring not being required. My invention consists in improving clocks, as hereinafter fully described and subsequently pointed out in the claims.

A in the drawing represents the trame-work of my clockthat is to say, ofthe clock-work proper. This frame is, by a series of vertical rods, B B, or by a suitable standard, connected with a ball, H, or globe, which constitutes the pendulum. The standard B contains, at or near its middle, atransverse plate, a, which has projecting' ears b I) forward and backward, the said ears eontainin g vertical pins c c. The lower ends of the pins c rest on a horizontal arm, d, which projects from a stationary frame or post, O. The ends ot the pins c are pointed or rounded to form convenient pivots for the apparatus, which, together with the frame A, swings on the same. The pins c are provided with screw-threads, to be vertically adjustable, so as thereby to regulate the swing of the pendulum and the consequent time ot' the clock. The ears b are pivoted to the plate a, so that they can be swung in or out of line to equalize the movement of the clock it' the same should not be equally heavy on both sides. In the frame A is hung the appropriate train of wheels D D for transmitting motion from the mainspring E to the hands on the hour and minute-spindles. This train is provided with an escapement-wheel, c, of suitable construction; its rotation being arrested at proper intervals by avibrating anchor,

f. The latter is mounted upon a spindle, g, which has a downward]y-projecting arm, h. The arm 7L is slotted longitudinally, and through the slot lits a pin, fi, which projects from the stationary post O. As the clock swings on its pivots c and the mainspring at the same time tends to revolve the train of wheels, the arm h will also be vibrated by such movement, the degree of swing varying with the height ofthe pin 'L'. The latter is, therefore, made vertically adjust-able by means of a screw, j, or equivalent device, and will thereby regulate the time of the clock. Instead of connecting the arm h with the stationary pin t, as stated, it may be formed into a second pendulum, swinging on the pivot g, opposite to the swing ot' the clock proper, in which case the pin t' is dispensed with. To the hour-spindle la is secured a projecting arm, Z., which serves to impart intermittent rotary motion to an arbor, m, which has projecting spurs a a for receiving the action of the arm I.. The arbor mr carries a wheel, 0, by means ot' which it serves to regulate the striking attachment, using no separate motive power for the same. The hannner F, for the striking attachment, is pivoted to the frame A and swings with the same to strike a suitable bell or sound instrument. ln such case the trame A is provided with a swinging fork, G, which is let down by the aforesaid mechanism connected with the wheel o. Then the fork G is let down the hammer F will be free to swing on its own pivot, by virtue ofthe motion ofthe clock, and to strike the bell. VWhen the fork is elevated it will catch the hammer and prevent it from swinging separately. The mechanism acted upon by the parts ou ando serves to let the fork G down at the proper time and to raise it up again when the requisite number of strokes has been given. Instead of hanging the hammer F to the frame A, as in Figs. l, 2, and 3, it may be pivoted to the post O, in which case it would have an indented or bent-in part, p, Fig. 6. The fork Gr would then be a mere plate, which, when in the indented portion p, will not a'eet the position ot' the hammer, but, when raised or lowered, will strike said hammer the desired number of times and then be replaced to the part p. In either ease it will be seen that no springI is required for operatingl the striking' mechanism, which derives its power entirely from the vibrating` eloek. Vithin the ball or sphere H is arranged an inner ringl or ball, I, which has its outer rim or faee marked with ures. The ball H is provided with one aperture, of', in front, through which one of said gures can be seen. The ring I is secured to a vertical shaft, J, which extends up into the frame A and is so hun g as to rotate easily on its axis. Its upper end carries a toothed wheel, s, which receives intermittent rotaryv motion from an arm or arms, t, of a wheel in the regular train. By being' thus turned at intervals of twenty-four hours the rigures displayed through the opening r will be properly changed to record the date. A pawl, a, is applied to the wheel s to look the same in position.

Having thus described my invention, I ela-im as new and desire to seeure by Letters Patentl. The arm l on the hour-spindle, Combined with the arms a on the arbor m for setting` the strikin g apparatus, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The adjustable fork or plate G, arranged on a vibrating clock, for the purpose of regulating the operation of the hammer F, as set forth.

The rotary date-disk I, arranged within the pendulum-ball of a eloek and oonneeted with the upper works, as speeiied.

, GEORGE HERRMANN. Vitnesses:

WM. F. KUHN, DAVID H. WERDEN. 

